Projection game apparatus including paper clip projector and closely spaced target posts

ABSTRACT

Game apparatus for projecting lightweight planar objects toward a plurality of spaced posts for individually ringing posts, leaning against one or several posts, or being suspended against gravity upon the plateau-like tops of two or more posts.

United States Patent Smith 1 51 July 11, 1972 [54] PROJECTION GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING PAPER CLIP PROJECTOR AND CLOSELY SPACED TARGET POSTS [72] Inventor: Richard D. Smith, 9l3 N. Liberty St.,

Arlington, Va, 22205 [22] Filed: April 29, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 32,907

52 0.8. cl. ..273/101, 273/102 R, 124/7,

- 273/106 B s 1 1 1m. 01. ..A63b 71/04 [58] Field oiSearch ..273/100, 95 R, 95 D, 101, 102 R,

273/ll9 R, 120 R, 124; 124/7, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,681,590 8/1928 Marczinko ..273/l l9 R 5 l9,324 5/1894 Davids l 24/16 l,l68,854 l/l9l6 Chase ..273/101 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind [5 7] ABSTRACT Game apparatus for projecting lightweight planar objects toward a plurality of spaced posts for individually ringing posts, leaning against one or several posts, or being suspended against gravity upon the plateau-like tops of no or more posts.

6 Clalms, 7 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEBJUL 11 1972 3.675.924

mvniwon RICHARD 0. SMITH PROJECTION GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING PAPER CLIP PROJECTOR AND CLOSELY SPACED TARGET POSTS This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and more particularly to a'device and method for projecting lightweight apertured planar objects toward a plurality of spaced posts in a fashion whereby each projected object is caused to either ring a single post, to lean upright against one or several posts, or to be suspended against gravity upon the plateau-like tops of several posts.

The improvements over the art of the subject invention derive directly from the particular gameboard and spring catapault device employed, and their method of utilization with an apertured object or flake which because of weight and dimension considerations can be supported on the projector by friction alone and flipped end-over-end more than 3 feet in height and/or distance to assume the above described positions in relation to the gameboard posts. Such distances are commonly achieved with a projector and flakes which are lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture and both safe and easy to use.

A full description of the invention is to be had from the following specification, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred form of the subject game apparatus;

FIGS. 2A2D is a series of views of the subject projector and flakes illustrating the method of use of both; and

FIGS. 3A3B illustrate the relative size and position of adjacent posts and a flake supported by and flush with the tops of two of the posts.

With reference to FIG. 1, the projector 1 is shown in use with a gameboard preferably consisting of a transparent planar base 2, provided with a plurality of integral flat-topped posts 3 which are of a size and separation as described below. Base 2 is positioned in a shallow open-mouth box or equivalent container 4, preferably in overlying relationship with a printed sheet 5 bearing indicia zones 6 which assign selected point values to certain posts and which are readily viewable owing to the transparency of base 2. The posts 3 serve as targets for apertured objects or flakes 7 which may be fabricated from plastic, paper board or the like, and catapaulted one at a time by projector I.

The size and separation of posts 3 are factors in determining the dimensional configuration of flakes 7 inasmuch as the flakes are required to assume at least three different and distinct types of positions relative to the posts of the gameboard, i.e., ringing a post and thus lying flat on base 2 of the gameboard as exemplified by flake 7a; leaning upright against one or more posts as exemplified by flake 7b; and suspended above base 2 against gravity by the plateau-like tops of several posts as exemplified by flake 70. By way of example only, the posts of a gameboard in actual use are threesixteenths inch in diameter, seventeen thirty-seconds inch high, and equilaterally spaced such that each post is center-tocenter spaced from each of a plurality of adjacent neighboring posts by just over 0.7 inch. The flakes used with a gameboard having posts thus dimensioned and spaced are preferably square-shaped with /16 inch sides and a 5% inch diameter center aperture. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the preferred relationship wherein a flake is able to assume a stable bridge position on the top of two posts. More often, the flake bridges three, and sometimes four, posts.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the projector device utilized essentially comprises a slender rod-like length of springy material. preferably metal, that includes a first generally U-shaped portion 8 and a second generally U-shaped portion 9. Portions 8 and 9 are interconnected by a third generally U-shaped pivot portion 10 characterized by legs that are substantially shorter than those of portions 8 and 9 and which open in a direction opposite that of portions 8 and 9. It should be clearly understood that portions 8, 9 and 10 may assume any of the many generally U-shaped configurations possible; e.g., the legs may be other than parallel and the closing ends may be other than curved.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the projector may take the form of a conventional metal paper clip, such as the GIANT GEM clip produced by the Noesting Pin Ticket Company. These clips measure just under two inches in length and just over threeeighths inch in breadth, and are fabricated from a slender rodlike length of springy metal material. Such clips are usually shaped to include first and second generally U-shaped portions that are substantially co-planar with and interconnected by a third U-shaped portion having legs substantially shorter than those of the first and second portions and opening in a direction opposite that of the first and second portions. As such, the paper clip of FIG. 2A is readily converted to the projector device of F IG. 28 by the simple expedient of spreading the first and second portions as by a forceful bending of the third portion such that all three portions are caused to assume a self-sustaining generally V-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B in conjunction with FIG. 2C further serves to illustrate the method by which a bent clip as described is used to support and project a planar flake 7 provided with a central aperture 11 toward the gameboard of FIG. 1. As shown, the closed end of first portion 8 is held in substantially fixed position relative to flake 7, as by pressing the closed end of portion 8 to a supporting base 12 with the index finger of the left hand. Owing to various design considerations set forth below, the flake can be solely supported by the legs of portion 9 or cooperatively with surface area of portion 10. The index finger of the right hand may then be used to move the closed end of second portion 9 toward the plane of first portion 8, causing flexure of at least third portion 10 so as to spring load all portions 8, 9 and 10 whereby flake 7 is rapidly projected toward the target upon snap release of portion 9 as by rapid sliding of the finger off the closed end of portion 9.

The shape, weight, size and fabricating material of flake 7 relative to the same parameters of projector l are significant factors in establishing the maximum distance to which a given flake will beprojected. Especially critical is the separation angle between the planes of portions 8 and 9, and the use of a projector and flake which exhibit relatively high coefficients of friction such that a flake can be solely supported by the legs of portion 9 at a high 0 angle (e.g., 5 to 20") by friction alone without attendant downward sliding of the flake due to gravity effects. Such solely supported flake position as illustrated in FIG. 2B (where 6= 12) has been found to provide a substantial flake flipping distance at the expense of very little effort by the person doing the projecting. Sliding of the flake slightly downward on the portion 9 as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2C proportionately reduces the projection distance attainable, and consequently affords each player a degree of control or adjustment for aiming accuracy improvement relative to a selected point value zone 6. Variation of 6 up or down also affords a measure of adjustment, but is not nearly as controllable and/or reliable as the flake moving technique.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is the following:

1. Object projecting game apparatus comprising: a gameboard; a plurality of upright posts fixedly secured to said gameboard; an object; and means for projecting said object toward said posts; said object being shaped and dimensioned, and said posts spaced apart whereby said object can be projected onto said gameboard for support by and substantially flush with the topmost surface only of two of said posts for bridging said last named posts.

2. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means is adapted to support said object in an inclined projecting position solely by friction.

3. Game apparatus as in claim I wherein said posts are provided with plateau-like tops.

4. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said posts are provided with plateau-like tops and said object is an apertured planar flake.

5. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a bent spring metal paper clip consisting of three generally U-shaped and integrally connected portions.

6. Game apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said posts are provided with plateau-like tops, said object is an apertured planar flake, and said means is adapted to support said flake in an inclined projecting position solely by friction. 

1. Object projecting game apparatus comprising: a gameboard; a plurality of upright posts fixedly secured to said gameboard; an object; and means for projecting said object toward said posts; said object being shaped and dimensioned, and said posts spaced apart whereby said object can be projected onto said gameboard for support by and substantially flush with the topmost surface only of two of said posts for bridging said last named posts.
 2. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means is adapted to support said object in an inclined projecting position solely by friction.
 3. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said posts are provided with plateau-like tops.
 4. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said posts are provided with plateau-like tops and said object is an apertured planar flake.
 5. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a bent spring metal paper clip consisting of three generally U-shaped and integrally connected portions.
 6. Game apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said posts are provided with plateau-like tops, said object is an apertured planar flake, and said means is adapted to support said flake in an inclined projecting position solely by friction. 